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Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Continuing his mission to save and protect animals, Ace Ventura is forced to travel deep into the wilds of Africa, where he searches for a sacred white bat while attempting to reconcile two warring tribes. Steve Oudekerk wrote the screenplay based on characters created by Jack Bernstein and Mr. Cerasini adapted the screenplay to book-prose format.
15 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 1995
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About the author
Marc Cerasini
86 books48 followersBest-selling author, Marc Cerasini has spent time on the New York Times and USA Today best-seller's lists. His writing spans from children's picture books and young adult novels to adult mystery and military nonfiction. Along the way, he's managed to ghostwrite for Tom Clancy.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 2, 2023
I've owned this for years largely out of curiosity because I've enjoyed some of Cerasini's other books (especially his Godzilla series). Alas, he was absolutely the wrong writer for this, as he keeps his prose very flat and matter-of-fact instead of leaning into the wackiness, meaning most of the gags fall flat. He's also stuck with an awful script, that traded the transphobia of the first film with deep tribalist racism, and a whole sequence where Ace goes undercover as a Japanese tourist. Even at a short page count, this was a miserable experience, and I'm eagerly purging this from my bookshelf.
February 27, 2008
The fact that this is here raises some very troubling questions: 1) Why did someone novelize "Ace Venture 2: When Nature Calls"? 2) Why did I, even a young version of myself, read this? 3) Why is it on my bookshelf to this day?
April 10, 2021
Based on the PG-13 rated sequel to the 1st Ace Ventura movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2008
"It was night in the jungles of Africa. The sound of drums thumped through the darkness. The rhythm of the drums was wild. Throbbing. Dangerous."
So begins Ace Venture 2: When Nature Calls: The Novel: Too Many Colons, a 122-page roller coaster ride you can't put down. Mark Cerasini adapts (or, should I say, is merely the imperfect vessel through which this great work flows) this epic of thrills and laughs, bucking the trend where a movie must first begin as a book. Rather than subscribe to this dogmatic approach to great literature, Cerasini understands that this is no mere book, this tome of paper and ink provides the medium through which Ace Venture further battles the injustices of the animal kingdom with style, pizazz, and zinging one-liners that will have you reaching for that bookmark as to not lose your place in the ensuing giggle-storm. Though the book does employ certain "meta" techniques that have gripped the field of literature and arts as of recent, Cerasini does so masterfully and with true artistic grace, avoiding simply jumping on the bandwagon. The book itself acts as a commentary on the social and economical plight of third-world nations and their peoples (just as the plot does), with an obviously intentional slapdash printing job that often makes the print slant and meander across the page. Though distracting at first, the sooner the reader garners the adapter's true intentions the better, as only then can true enjoyment of this literary masterpiece begin.
Don't let the biopic's large, child- and elderly-friendly font fool you, this is a dense work of literary genius. Indeed, newcomers to the legacy of Ace Ventura may first want to watch the moving picture version of this tale, as without a previous viewing experience to serve as a guide or navigator one may easily be lost in the twists and turns of metaphors and beautifully crafted prose the volume employs.
Those acquainted with the heroism (and shenanigans) of Mr. Ventura may be best served to treat this book as the textual equivalent of a DVD extras section. While true, it does contain the rank and file story of Ace's adventures and escapades in the dark continent, it also goes so much further. Just when you begin to think that you can no longer take the anticipation brought on by the slow-building suspense of the first half, WHAM, 60-odd pages in there is a brief respite. Like an oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert, the mid-section of the book features eight (count them!) pages of production stills, detailing various characters (including Mr. Ventura and his stylish wardrobe) and plot evens. If need be or one is pressed for time, certain color photos also reveal the ending of novel, a spoiler that wrenches your heart from your chest halfway through one of the greatest experiences you will ever have in your life. Fear not these spoilers, for they have only given away the destination, but the true experience is in the journey and the savoring thereof!
Though many may take the 5-star rating as a declaration of perfection, this is not the case. In fact, this work's greatest accomplishment stems from its flaws, which make it gritty and realistic. Just like life, this book and its characters are all flawed; they all have pasts to hide from, presents to enjoy, and futures to plan. Drawing on this, their errors, histories, and motivations make them personable if not likable, and in the end much more believable as resolution is not always achieved in a neat 90-minute time as some would have you believe.
Friends, if I may leave you with but three words to mark this serendipitous occasion, please do your best to head them when considering this book and its true greatness: "All Rightee then!"
So begins Ace Venture 2: When Nature Calls: The Novel: Too Many Colons, a 122-page roller coaster ride you can't put down. Mark Cerasini adapts (or, should I say, is merely the imperfect vessel through which this great work flows) this epic of thrills and laughs, bucking the trend where a movie must first begin as a book. Rather than subscribe to this dogmatic approach to great literature, Cerasini understands that this is no mere book, this tome of paper and ink provides the medium through which Ace Venture further battles the injustices of the animal kingdom with style, pizazz, and zinging one-liners that will have you reaching for that bookmark as to not lose your place in the ensuing giggle-storm. Though the book does employ certain "meta" techniques that have gripped the field of literature and arts as of recent, Cerasini does so masterfully and with true artistic grace, avoiding simply jumping on the bandwagon. The book itself acts as a commentary on the social and economical plight of third-world nations and their peoples (just as the plot does), with an obviously intentional slapdash printing job that often makes the print slant and meander across the page. Though distracting at first, the sooner the reader garners the adapter's true intentions the better, as only then can true enjoyment of this literary masterpiece begin.
Don't let the biopic's large, child- and elderly-friendly font fool you, this is a dense work of literary genius. Indeed, newcomers to the legacy of Ace Ventura may first want to watch the moving picture version of this tale, as without a previous viewing experience to serve as a guide or navigator one may easily be lost in the twists and turns of metaphors and beautifully crafted prose the volume employs.
Those acquainted with the heroism (and shenanigans) of Mr. Ventura may be best served to treat this book as the textual equivalent of a DVD extras section. While true, it does contain the rank and file story of Ace's adventures and escapades in the dark continent, it also goes so much further. Just when you begin to think that you can no longer take the anticipation brought on by the slow-building suspense of the first half, WHAM, 60-odd pages in there is a brief respite. Like an oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert, the mid-section of the book features eight (count them!) pages of production stills, detailing various characters (including Mr. Ventura and his stylish wardrobe) and plot evens. If need be or one is pressed for time, certain color photos also reveal the ending of novel, a spoiler that wrenches your heart from your chest halfway through one of the greatest experiences you will ever have in your life. Fear not these spoilers, for they have only given away the destination, but the true experience is in the journey and the savoring thereof!
Though many may take the 5-star rating as a declaration of perfection, this is not the case. In fact, this work's greatest accomplishment stems from its flaws, which make it gritty and realistic. Just like life, this book and its characters are all flawed; they all have pasts to hide from, presents to enjoy, and futures to plan. Drawing on this, their errors, histories, and motivations make them personable if not likable, and in the end much more believable as resolution is not always achieved in a neat 90-minute time as some would have you believe.
Friends, if I may leave you with but three words to mark this serendipitous occasion, please do your best to head them when considering this book and its true greatness: "All Rightee then!"
April 20, 2015
Time for something REALLY silly. The first one wasn't too bad... This one comes with pictures from the movie and is not quite the same edition as the ONLY edition available.
Finished last night in about an hour. NOT as "good" as the first one. Just to be clear... I didn't go and get this anywhere, I found it at the local transfer station where I help to take care of the book shelves once a month or so. A few laughs along the way... And... believe it or not there's a serious message of anti violence-to-animals within the text!
Finished last night in about an hour. NOT as "good" as the first one. Just to be clear... I didn't go and get this anywhere, I found it at the local transfer station where I help to take care of the book shelves once a month or so. A few laughs along the way... And... believe it or not there's a serious message of anti violence-to-animals within the text!
December 16, 2012
The posters were great!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews